Celebrating community heroes: Bonteheuwel resident wins Crime Fighter award

Bonteheuwel Neighbourhood Watch member has been named Crime Fighter of the Year.

Deen Solomon was one of the Neighbourhood Watch (NW) Awards recipients, when the City’s Safety and Security Directorate announced this year’s winners during a ceremony held in the Council Chamber, Civic Centre recently.

The annual awards drew more than 200 nominations for individuals and Neighbourhood Watches across the metropole, in a number of categories.

The awards celebrate excellence, perseverance and commitment by NWs who work in communities and closely with the City’s enforcement agencies.

The awards recognise both individual Watch members and organisations, across a number of categories. 

Solomon of the KIC Neighbourhood Watch in Bonteheuwel received the nod for Crime fighter of the Year.

According to the city he has shown exceptional bravery and quick thinking in numerous operations that have led to successful arrests and the prevention of major crimes.

“Deen’s nomination noted that ‘his situational awareness and decisive action, often in high-risk situations, have kept residents safe and strengthened community confidence,” the City said.

Other winners in the individual categories were:

Mobiliser of the Year: Mvano Magula, Qhubekani Neigbourhood Watch, Mfuleni.
Inspiration of the Year: Sandra De Wet Van Den Berg, De La Haye Neighbourhood Watch, Bellville

Courage in Action: Yaseerah Nelson, Klip Neighbourhood Watch, Lotus River, who is remembered for saving a young boy from drowning during Winter floods in the community.

Organisational Excellence: Nomsa Klaas, Driftsands Neighbourhood Watch, Mfuleni

Group recipients were: Situational Crime Prevention Award: Khuseleka Neighbourhood Watch, Khayelitsha

Courage in Action: Boundaries Neighbourhood Watch, Retreat

Mayoral Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith said the recognition was needed for those who made their communities safer: “It is heartwarming to see how communities appreciate the work done by these volunteers who dedicate their time and skill to keeping their areas safe."

Two new categories were added this year, which included: The Disaster Relief Contributor of the Year for assistance rendered in preventing and mitigating disasters, which went to Mfuleni Extension 6 Neighbourhood Watch for demonstrating exceptional compassion, resilience, and commitment and whose actions meaningfully supported the City’s Disaster Management efforts.

“Watch members have undergone firefighting training to serve as the community’s first line of defence and during the most recent outbreak, their swift action limited the destruction to just two shacks, a remarkable outcome credited entirely to the team’s rapid response, courage, and coordination,” the City explained.

Another is the Best Utilisation of Technology Award, which went to Melkbosstrand Neighbourhood Watch for their innovative and effective use of technology to enhance safety and they were noted to have ‘set the benchmark for digital excellence in community safety through its outstanding use of the Trusted Partner App’.

The app enables seamless coordination between patrollers and partners, allowing the team to monitor trends, report suspicious activity instantly, and support SAPS and City Law Enforcement with verified, time-stamped information.

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